May 29, 2018
07:10 am JST

Abe speaks like he know Japan is taking advantage of the status quo and wants nothing to change. Unfortunately for him, the US finally has a President that does not just apologize and look the other way.

May 29, 2018
07:30 am JST

Trump is trying to force the Japanese to buy vehicles they do not want to purchase. Americans vehicles are "sodai gomi" and are expensive to register. They are expensive due to their large size and lack of dealers. Nothing like seeing an oversize American car rusting on the showroom floor. Japanese companies make vehicles just for the American market. Quality vehicles that Americans want to purchase. Many of them are made in the USA. Trump is just pandering to the right wing of his republican party as usual.

May 29, 2018
08:01 am JST

Has anyone ever priced an American car in Japan? You’ll find they cost about 40% more than they do in America. Japanese people want to buy things they can afford to buy, but Japan’s companies want them to buy only Japanese goods.

Before someone says something stupid about how American cars are not suitable for Japan, what about other cars? British, French, Italian, and ofher makers also have their cars priced out of the market in Japan. And, how about Korean cars? Korean cars sell very well in America and Europe, but they are not sold at all in Japan, and neither are Korean televisions or cameras.

May 29, 2018
09:23 am JST

I think it is all about markets. The US, EU and China have the largest auto markets and therefore have leverage to negotiate import restrictions because the gain is so huge. Japan and Korea have rather small and shrinking auto markets with strong players. Trump has little to lose.

May 29, 2018
09:29 am JST

With the exception of the Jeep the driver sits on the wrong side of the car. The European cars I have seen, the driver sits on the right side of the car. American companies do not bother making a vehicle made just for the Japanese market.

May 29, 2018
09:31 am JST

Another Summit should be organized to discuss this. PM Abe will smooth this over with Trump. Japan automakers are big job and wealth creators for USA. Not a National Security risk. Japan should be given an exception to the new import tariffs.

May 29, 2018
09:35 am JST

@Yuri Otani: With the exception of the Jeep the driver sits on the wrong side of the car. The European cars I have seen, the driver sits on the right side of the car. American companies do not bother making a vehicle made just for the Japanese market.

As a small and shrinking market, it is just not worth it for automakers to put any effort in Japan. Add to that an opaque bureaucracy and a long history of putting up trade restrictions and pitfalls, Japan is a dead end. I wouldn't be surprised if China and the EU follow the US and force Japanese car makers to manufacture in the country or area where the car is to be sold. The era of Japanese predatory manufacturing, by using a cheap currency to weaken and kill foreign rivals in their home country with a cost advantage, is coming to an end. Hopefully Japan can do something besides make cars to save their economy.

May 29, 2018
10:17 am JST

Japan and it’s useful idiot apologists have had it too good, for too long. Victims of their own success, their kicking, screaming and well-honed propensity to temper tantrums will gain them zero traction. The sooner they admit to themselves that the old ways have served their purpose and that it’s time to move on, the better off they’ll be.

May 29, 2018
10:44 am JST

RecklessToday 09:35 am JST

The era of Japanese predatory manufacturing, by using a cheap currency to weaken and kill foreign rivals in their home country with a cost advantage, is coming to an end. Hopefully Japan can do something besides make cars to save their economy.

May 29, 2018
11:43 am JST

May 29, 2018
11:43 am JST

American companies do not bother making a vehicle made just for the Japanese market

This is nonsense, America has always produced numerous right-hand-drive cars. Ford has sold some of top-selling cars in the UK and in Australia, all are RHD. In fact, Ford sold three of the world’s top-selling cars, the Fiesta, Focus, and Combi-van. The cars were compact, cheap, and came with RHD, yet Japan did not allow them to sell here.

May 29, 2018
12:15 pm JST

Trump has little to lose.

Go for it, Trump! A tax an metals will be swallowed by American producers or appear obliquely in price rises, but add some $8,000 to the price of a Toyota or Honda and pitchforks will be out. As usual, Trump is all impetuous verbal diarrhea backed up with zero.

May 29, 2018
01:35 pm JST

How much leverage does Mr.Abe's 'Convincing' can do to people like Trump? He doesn't cares any advices, his intention is not to solve any his so called trade disputes instead he is seeking to stir up troubles! This is what Abe Dan has failed to understand him!

May 29, 2018
01:39 pm JST

May 29, 2018
02:17 pm JST

You can go to Europe and see decent selection of Ford cars made for local markets: Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta, or even Sierra back in 1990's. Same with Korean cars, you can buy them everywhere except here.

Why in Thailand you see mostly Japanese cars? Because those companies pay to Thai government to keep import duties high to keep the import out. I am pretty sure similar practices take place in Japan too.

May 29, 2018
02:32 pm JST

Donald Trump is investigating Japanese automobile has lead to many American auto industry workers' suicides,homicides,family violences or doing drugs of these tragedes has caused since Japanese automobile imports has caused.Can be traced back to 1970s. This is his definition of foreign autos is a threat to US national security. Mr.Abe you are in big troubles!

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